Biographical Dictionary of American Journalism: [Hardcover]

Joseph P. McKerns (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313238189 | ISBN-13: 978-0313238185 | Publication Date: July 24, 1989

This comprehensive reference offers nearly 500 biographical sketches, with bibliography, of significant journalists in American history, past and present, living and dead. Its subjects are drawn from the major mass media, including newspapers, radio, television, magazines, and film, and it provides a thorough representation of the various subfields of American journalism, such as reporters, editors, columnists, humorists, editorial cartoonists, illustrators, photographers, commentators, all types of correspondents, and sports journalists. Unlike similar volumes, this dictionary goes beyond the mainstream media to draw upon significant figures from the feminist and suffragist press, and the black press, and traces the development of American journalism from its beginning in Boston in 1690 to present global broadcast networks. The biographical sketches present perspectives on the lives of the people who help develop the big city and small city newspaper press, the regional press, the frontier press, the early radio and television news, and the radical and dissident press. Arranged alphabetically, each sketch includes a useful bibliography for further reference, and there is a general index as well as an appendix that lists the subjects according to media, professional fields and other categories. The broad scope of this valuable sourcebook will make it an indispensable aid in the fields of journalism and communications, and a useful addition to university and college libraries, metropolitan newspapers, national and local magazines, and broadcast networks and local stations in large cities.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is an excellent collection of two- to three-page biographical sketches of 500 noteworthy journalists from 1690 to the present, including some who are important because of their minority status or gender. No previous work of this nature exists. The well-researched and very interesting entries were written by 133 journalism historians. Each detailed yet readable sketch stresses the person's significance in shaping American journalism, including newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, news agencies, and news photography. Each includes works by and works about the person. This book, cross-indexed several ways, may become the takeoff point for thousands of term papers and should be in reference collections, as well as in all serious media collections.
- Abraham Z. Bass, Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Readable, authoritative biographies of approximately 500 men and women, from Mary Clemmer Ames to John Peter Zenger, who have contributed significantly to the development of journalism in the US from 1690 to the present. . . . No other single volume brings together as much biographical information on major US journalists. Enthusiastically recommended.”–Choice

“This is an excellent collection of two-to three-page biographical sketches of 500 noteworthy journalists from 1690 to the present, including some who are important because of their minority status or gender. No previous work of this nature exists. The well-researched and very interesting entries were written by 133 journalism historians. Each detailed yet readable sketch stresses the person's significance in shaping American journalism, including newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, news agencies, and news photography. Each includes works by and works about the person. This book, cross-indexed several ways, may become the takeoff point for thousands of term papers and should be in reference collections, as well as in all serious media collections.”–Library Journal

“. . . This is a worthy addition to reference works in journalism.”–Reference Quarterly

“This book will be an essential element of every research library. The lives of 484 journalists are summarized in the book's 820 pages, and each entry includes a brief bibliography. The volume is fully indexed, and an appendix categorizes the journalists by field (correspondents, humorists, radio personalities, sports reporters, and so on). The appendix also provides lists of women journalists, minorities in journalism, Pulitzer Prize winners, and award winners in broadcasting. This reference work ought to be among the personal books of every journalist. . .”–Journalism Quarterly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 834 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (July 24, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313238189
• ISBN-13: 978-0313238185
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,767,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)